Returning to Troia

To reach your next destination, you should first return to the air space above Kaipo. From there, fly westward until you reach the thickly forested content Troia is on. Find the narrow river, and follow its snaking path north to the city in question. Land, save your progress, and enter the Epopt-run locale.

Tip

South of Troia, you may have noticed a tiny, deforested patch of land, surrounded by a triangle-shaped trio of little craters. There are a number of these uniquely marked locations scattered throughout the Blue Planet, and each hides a Monster-in-a-Box. Finding and defeating them all could yield some useful loot...

The people may have shuttered their shops, but they'll sell you their wares outdoors. Unfortunately, the Inn's services are unavailable. Even if you've no desire to go shopping, you should have a little fun looting. Enter the southeast-most body of water where the Epopt trainees once were—back during Edge's Tale—and follow the river north. When you step onto dry land, go through the trees at your left to reach the grassy area in the northwest corner. There, you'll find very useful items, including an X-Potion and a Dry Ether.

Now, enter Troia Castle. As not a single inhabitant can speak, head straight for the Throne Room. There, the party will theorize on Palom's whereabouts, and you'll be headed to the Lodestone Cavern, which is northeast of Troia. Leave, board your airship, and soar there. Though you trekked through this chilly cave previously, all of the Treasure Chests have been re-filled. Feel free to plunder them as you make your way to the secondary Crystal Chamber that Palom reached in his own tale.

When you do reach the Crystal Chamber's entranceway, don't forget to use the Save Point that's southeast of it. You should both recover your HP and MP and record your progress there. Once you're all patched up, enter the chamber, make sure you're still wearing Magic Defense armor, and charge into the center. Rydia will call Shiva out into the open, and you'll engage in battle. Firaga does a fantastic job of melting the ice queen, and her own attacks won't do much to you—at first. Make sure everyone's HP is kept up, else her inevitable Diamond Dust will obliterate you. To ensure your safety, have Edge and Rydia on constant medic duty—using Healing Pill and Sylph—while only Luca and the Man in Black deal damage.

The moment Rydia realizes that Shiva only wants to be normal again, stop fighting immediately. If a pending attack strikes her, you'll need to gently cast Fire on her until Rydia repeats herself. Wait it out until Shiva gives up, and you'll be automatically returned to Troia's shores, airship and all.